By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Miami Heat surged late with a 14-0 run to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-109 at Kaseya Center, fueled by a standout performance from Swedish starter Pelle Larsson, who notched a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds while adding three steals. Italian Simone Fontecchio contributed three points off the bench for Erik Spoelstra’s side, though Serbia’s Nikola Jovic, Russia’s Vladislav Goldin, and Lithuania’s Kasparas Jakucionis did not see any action. This victory had significant postseason implications, as the result allowed the New York Knicks to officially clinch their berth in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google. For the Sixers, Turkish reserve Adem Bona managed two points.
Despite Bosnian Luka Garza stepping into the starting lineup to deliver an efficient 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting, the Boston Celtics fell 112-102 to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. The C’s were shorthanded in the frontcourt, with Portuguese Neemias Queta sidelined by a right thumb sprain and Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic out with a finger fracture. Spanish Hugo Gonzalez and British Amari Williams added five and four points respectively, while Ukrainian Max Shulga went scoreless. French reserve Zaccharie Risacher chipped in nine points to help secure the win for the Hawks.
Elsewhere in the 2025-26 Regular Season, the Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Detroit Pistons 114-110 in an overtime thriller at Paycom Center, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 47 points and a 14-point contribution from Belgian starter Ajay Mitchell. Germany’s Isaiah Hartenstein missed the game due to injury management, while Serbia’s Nikola Topic remained on the bench, and Sweden’s Bobi Klintman was out of the Detroit rotation.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Dallas Mavericks 124-94 at American Airlines Center, marked by the return of Anthony Edwards and a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double from French center Rudy Gobert. Fellow European starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, scored 15 points for the Wolves, and French reserve Joan Beringer added six, while Greek John Poulakidas had eight for the Mavs.
Without Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 120-101 win over the Washington Wizards. German Maxi Kleber stayed on the bench for JJ Redick’s side. Serbian starter Tristan Vukcevic tallied 14 points for the visitors, with Frenchmen Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr both out due to injuries.
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Utah Jazz 122-113 at Delta Center, where German Dennis Schroder produced three points, while Dutch Tristan Enaruna and French Olivier Sarr were away on G League assignment. For the hosts, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not play, with Finnish Lauri Markkanen and Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic remaining sidelined.
Finally, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 131-105 at FedExForum. French Adama Bal registered nine points for Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo’s squad, with fellow French import Rayan Rupert on G League assignment and Spanish Santi Aldama remaining out following knee surgery.
Monday results
Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers 119-109
Atlanta Hawks – Boston Celtics 112-102
Memphis Grizzlies – Phoenix Suns 105-131
San Antonio Spurs – Chicago Bulls 129-114
Dallas Mavericks – Minnesota Timberwolves 94-124
Utah Jazz – Cleveland Cavaliers 113-122
Oklahoma City Thunder – Detroit Pistons 114-110 OT (101-101)
Los Angeles Lakers – Washington Wizards 120-101
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. x-Detroit Pistons 54-21
2. x-Boston Celtics 50-25
3. x-New York Knicks 48-27
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 47-28
5. Toronto Raptors 42-32
6. Atlanta Hawks 43-33
7. Philadelphia 76ers 41-34
8. Orlando Magic 39-35
9. Miami Heat 40-36
10. Charlotte Hornets 39-36
11. o-Milwaukee Bucks 29-45
12. o-Chicago Bulls 29-46
13. o-Brooklyn Nets 18-57
14. o-Indiana Pacers 17-58
15. o-Washington Wizards 17-58
Western Conference
1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 60-16
2. x-San Antonio Spurs 57-18
3. Los Angeles Lakers 49-26
4. Denver Nuggets 48-28
5. Minnesota Timberwolves 46-29
6. Houston Rockets 45-29
7. Phoenix Suns 42-33
8. Los Angeles Clippers 39-36
9. y-Portland Trail Blazers 38-38
10. y-Golden State Warriors 36-39
11. o-Memphis Grizzlies 25-50
12. o-New Orleans Pelicans 25-51
13. o-Dallas Mavericks 24-51
14. o-Utah Jazz 21-55
15. o-Sacramento Kings 19-57
-Top six teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference enter the Play-Ins
x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched play-in berth
o-eliminated